Several forest fires that threaten cottage country in the Kawartha Lakes area were burning out of control Tuesday, fuelled by an ongoing heat wave and blanketing skies with smoke.

A total of four fires have broken out since last Friday, spanning the area between Lake Simcoe and Chandos Lake, burning on both sides of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.

Fire rangers and local fire departments were collaborating to contain the blazes, as residents were being told to be ready in the event of evacuations.

The most recent fire broke out Monday afternoon just after 2 p.m. near Kirkfield, east of Lake Simcoe, and has grown quickly from five to 33.5 hectares. A grass fire that spread rapidly, it remains out of control despite the efforts of five crews of Ontario fire rangers and water bombers.

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